United States vs. Sweden
Site: RFK Stadium, Washington
Time: 12:30 p.m.
How they got there: At the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the U.S. team edged Canada, 2-1, in the championship game to qualify after first outscoring four opponents 22-0. Sweden won a tiebreaker with Denmark to lead UEFA's second qualifying group.
Players to watch: Any talk of U.S. soccer or women's soccer as a whole begins with Mia Hamm, who will look to add to her record 142 international goals in her final World Cup appearance. Brandi Chastain will continue to anchor the Americans' experienced defense. Sweden forward Hanna Ljungberg is as strong on the ball as in the air, totaling 48 international goals in 89 appearances. A gifted Swedish midfield is anchored by 30-year-old Malin Andersson, who has 126 caps and handles most of the team's set pieces.
Previous appearances: Winners at home in 1999, the Americans are seeking their third World Cup in four tries. Sweden placed third in the inaugural World Cup in 1991 and then faltered in the quarterfinals in 1995 and 1999.
Quick look: With its experience, depth and talent, the U.S. team is the favorite to win the whole thing once again. But getting out of Group A -dubbed the "Group of Death" - will be no easy chore, and it starts with an immediate challenge against a Sweden side that earned a 1-1 draw against the U.S. team in the Algarve Cup earlier this year.
Brazil vs. South Korea
Site: RFK Stadium, Washington
Time: 3:15 p.m.
How they got there: In going 3-0 in the CONMEBOL qualifying tournament, the Brazilians outscored Argentina, Colombia and Peru by an 18-2 margin. South Korea edged Japan, 1-0, in the third-place match of the Asian championships.
Players to watch: Katia, Brazil's 26-year-old striker, was a star with the San Jose CyberRays of the recently folded Women's United Soccer Association. She led the league in scoring in 2002. At 16, Korea striker Eun Sun Park is the youngest player in Women's World Cup history. Ji Eun Lee, who scored five times in the Asian championships, gives the Koreans a dangerous one-two scoring punch.
Previous appearances: Unable to get out of group play in 1991 and 1995, Brazil came away with the bronze medal in 1999. South Korea is making its first World Cup appearance.
Quick look: Only five players return from Brazil's 1999 World Cup team that took third, but the team is coming off a gold-medal performance in the recent Pan American Games. South Korea may be overwhelmed by playing on the world's biggest stage.
Russia vs. Australia
Site: Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.
Time: 8:30 p.m.
How they got there: Russia, the 11th-ranked team in the world, won Group 3 of the European World Cup qualifying, edging Iceland with three wins, a loss and two draws. Australia, ranked 15th, won the Oceania championship to qualify.
Players to watch: Russian goalkeeper Svetlana Petko, 33, was in the box for Russia's first women's national team game in 1990 and, with more than 130 caps, her experience could prove pivotal. Attacking midfielder Alexandra Svetlitskaya is a threat from anywhere on the field. With Australia hurting for goals, it was only appropriate that a defender, Cheryl Salisbury, scored for the Matildas in their recent 1-0 exhibition win over Scotland.
Previous appearances: Russia was a surprise in 1999, going 2-2 while advancing to the quarterfinals, where it fell to eventual runner-up China, 2-0. Australia has yet to win a World Cup match (0-5-1).
Quick look: This match should be for second place in the group - behind China - and the quarterfinal berth that comes with it.
China vs. Ghana
Site: Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.
Time: 11:15 p.m.
How they got there: China, ranked fourth in the world, qualified as the original host, though the tournament was moved to the United States in May after the SARS outbreak. Ghana, the lowest-ranked team in the group at No. 53, qualified by finishing second in the 2002 African championships.
Players to watch: China forward Sun Wen, 30, has won just about everything possible, except for a team title. She will be playing in her fourth World Cup after winning the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards as MVP and leading scorer of the 1999 tournament. Ghana forward Alberta Sackey is Africa's Player of the Year and goalkeeper Memunatu Sulemana is considered the continent's best.
Previous appearances: China is 10-3-3 all-time in the World Cup but has yet to win it, the Steel Roses failing to make the final when they were host in 1991, losing both their semifinal and third-place matches in 1995 and dropping the epic final to the U.S. in 1999. Ghana's first World Cup foray was in 1999, when the Black Queens went 0-2-1, tying Australia.
Quick look: China is expected to walk away with this group, but must not get caught looking ahead to another potential final with the United States.
-Glenn P. Graham, The Sun; Paul Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times
